Black Morel - Morchella elata

Description

The Black Morel has fruitbodies with a single central hollow in the head and stem.  The head is conical, with longitudinal ridges that are more or less parallel, divided by short horizontal ridges.  The head colour varies from grey to nearly black. The stem is white and smooth.  This may be part of a complex of species. 

Similar Species

Morchella esculenta, the Common Morel, has a more rounded head with an irregular honeycomb of pits, not aligned in parallel ridges.   The head of the Semifree Morel Morchella semilibera is attached to the stem only in the upper part.  Morels in other genus do not have a single central hollow in stem and head. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph in habitat; note substrate. 

Habitat

Under trees and in woodlands.  Also on woodchip in parks, gardens, etc. 

When to see it

March to May.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

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Species profile

Common names
Black Morel
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Pezizales
Family:
Morchellaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
4
First record:
12/04/2014 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
30/04/2023 (Cherry, Taela-Rae)

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